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JAMES MONTFORT INTERVIEW
OH 1090
New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project
Montana Historical Society
Summary
TAPE I – SIDE A
0 to 5 minutes
Describes early life. Graduated high school 1932, came to work at dam in 1933. “ Of
course, I n1932 there was no such thing as a job.” Did some ranch work. Came to cut
timber off dam site. Remembers first day on job. “ Diamond willow” had to be chopped
down by hand with axes. When got tired, would sharpen ax. Wages and hours worked,
cost for board and room. Tells how heard about Fort Peck jobs and getting hired.
Cottonwood tree stump- pulling. Single “ guys” were getting laid off. He didn’t think he
should have gotten hired when there were so many married men out of work. Describes
other work he did there. Highway between Fort Peck and Glasgow built, summer job.
Then work at stripping base of dam, truck driver. Remembers driving little dump trucks
without cabs or floor boards or windshields. Explains why they were built that way and
nature of job.
6 to 10 minutes
Didn’t use same trucks in winter time, didn’t do that kind of work then. Worked there
until 1936. Went to work for Mason and Walsh, wages were less with contractor.
Describes wages. Got married, and bought car, and was really “ living it up.” Lived
Wilson town site west of Wheeler. Then got transferred to rock and gravel section,
laying quarry stones. When left was shift foreman. Likes job. Then war started,
“ messed around,” he was sent to Rapid City where worked on air force base being built.
Other places got sent, construction jobs. 1942, returned to Fort Peck. Worked on power
house construction. Didn’t want to live in Texas, next place was being sent, so quit.
Describes boom town life. Water delivered by truck. Leisure time activities in boom

Interviewed by Rick Duncan on 1 Aug. 1987 in Fort Peck, Mont., as part of the repository's New Deal in Montana/Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project.; Topics include his stripping work at the dam; truck driving; living in the community of Wilson; and recreation.

JAMES MONTFORT INTERVIEW
OH 1090
New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project
Montana Historical Society
Summary
TAPE I – SIDE A
0 to 5 minutes
Describes early life. Graduated high school 1932, came to work at dam in 1933. “ Of
course, I n1932 there was no such thing as a job.” Did some ranch work. Came to cut
timber off dam site. Remembers first day on job. “ Diamond willow” had to be chopped
down by hand with axes. When got tired, would sharpen ax. Wages and hours worked,
cost for board and room. Tells how heard about Fort Peck jobs and getting hired.
Cottonwood tree stump- pulling. Single “ guys” were getting laid off. He didn’t think he
should have gotten hired when there were so many married men out of work. Describes
other work he did there. Highway between Fort Peck and Glasgow built, summer job.
Then work at stripping base of dam, truck driver. Remembers driving little dump trucks
without cabs or floor boards or windshields. Explains why they were built that way and
nature of job.
6 to 10 minutes
Didn’t use same trucks in winter time, didn’t do that kind of work then. Worked there
until 1936. Went to work for Mason and Walsh, wages were less with contractor.
Describes wages. Got married, and bought car, and was really “ living it up.” Lived
Wilson town site west of Wheeler. Then got transferred to rock and gravel section,
laying quarry stones. When left was shift foreman. Likes job. Then war started,
“ messed around,” he was sent to Rapid City where worked on air force base being built.
Other places got sent, construction jobs. 1942, returned to Fort Peck. Worked on power
house construction. Didn’t want to live in Texas, next place was being sent, so quit.
Describes boom town life. Water delivered by truck. Leisure time activities in boom